How Scientology tore Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley apart

Remini, who grew up with Presley in the church, has been openly critical of Scientology after breaking free and now hosts the A&E show Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. But sources say Presley has cut off their friendship because she became convinced she was being manipulated.

Presley has been battling personal problems, including addiction, and had a recent stint in rehab. She is divorcing her fourth husband, Michael Lockwood, while their eight-year-old twin daughters are in the custody of child protective services in California due to allegations made in their divorce papers. Presley also claims she has been suffering financial problems — despite her huge inheritance from her dad.

A Hollywood source says, “Leah and Lisa Maria were good friends. They grew up together. Lisa Marie has been going through a hard time in her life, and has been battling addiction, and Leah tried to convince Lisa to leave Scientology and join her in trying to bring the church down.”

The source added, “Lisa was very down ­because of her divorce and drugs. Once Lisa got sober and started turning her life around, she started to believe Leah’s actions were dangerous. She felt she was being manipulated.

“The message from Leah’s show is causing problems for Scientologists in Hollywood. Children of Lisa Marie’s Scientologist friends are getting bullied in school because of things said. There have been more reports of harassment against Scientologists, and Lisa Marie believes they are related to things said on Leah’s show ... Things are getting scary. Lisa Marie freaked out and wants nothing to do with Leah.”

Reps for Remini — who has been praised as brave for coming out against the powerful Scientology organisation — didn’t comment, but sources close to the actress said, “Leah never asked Lisa Marie to appear on the show, and, in fact, Lisa Marie was supportive of Leah’s decision to leave the church.”

Presley’s reps declined to comment.

This article was originally published on the New York Post